2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide - City of St ...
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2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter
Recruitment Guide
St. John’s Regional Fire Department
Administration
5 Fort Townshend – Central Fire Station
PO Box 908
St. John’s, NL
A1C 5M2
Last Revised: August 20202020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 2
CONTENTS
Inside the SJRFD 3
Divisions 3
Office of the Fire Chief 3
Operations Division 5
Support Services Division 7
Goulds Volunteer Fire Department 9
Administration & Information Services Division 10
Mechanical Division 11
Emergency and Safety Services Division 12
Organizational Chart 13
Recruitment Process 14
Why Should I Be Interested in the St. John’s Regional Fire Department? 15
What Does It Take To Become a Firefighter? 16
What Qualifications Do I Need To Become a Firefighter? 16
Overview of Recruitment Process – 4 Stages 18
Stage 1 – Application Process 18
Stage 2 – Written Exam 19
Stage 3 – Interview & Cognitive Ability test 19
Stage 4 – City of St. John’s Pre-Employment Medical 19
What Type of Job-Related (Physical) Testing Do I Need to Complete? 21
Where Do I Find Facilities That Offer Those Job-Related (Physical) Tests As Outlined Above? 21
Will the Job-Related (Physical) Test and VO2 Max Be At My Own Expense? 21
What Documentation Do I Provide With My Application to SJRFD? 22
Does My Job-Related (Physical) Test Expire? 22
Interview Tips 23
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 242020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 3
Inside the SJRFD
Through the office of the Fire Chief (Director of Regional Fire and Emergency Services), the St.
John’s Regional Fire Department (SJRFD) is responsible for providing the Region (St. John’s, Mount Pearl,
Paradise, Petty Harbour/Maddox Cove and Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove) with an acceptable level of fire
and emergency protection in the most economical manner, with backup emergency services being
provided to a number of surrounding towns in the Northeast Avalon Region. Services provided to the
public include, but are not limited to:
Fire Suppression
Road Traffic Accident Response
Medical Response
Hazardous Materials Response
Specialty Teams Response (High Angle, Confined Space, Water Rescue and Helicopter Rescue)
Fire Prevention
911 Communication Services
Divisions
OFFICE OF THE FIRE CHIEF
The Fire Chief (Director of Regional Fire and Emergency Services) is responsible for providing the
Region with an acceptable level of fire and emergency protection in the most economical manner. This
office is located at Central Fire Station, 3rd floor.
Personnel Position #
Fire Chief (Director of Regional Fire and Emergency Services) 1
Program Support Specialist 1
OHN/Disability Case Manager 1
TOTAL 32020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 4
2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 5
OPERATIONS DIVISION
The Deputy Chief of Operations is responsible for the Operations Division which is the largest
Division in the Department.
Personnel Position #
Deputy Chief of Operations 1
Platoon Chiefs 4
Fire Captain 25
Fire Lieutenant 24
Firefighter 121
Temporary Firefighters 20
Fire Equipment Maintenance Technician 1
TOTAL 196
SUPPRESSION DIVISION
Providing a wide range of emergency and general public assistance services to the Region,
suppression personnel stand ready 24 hours per day, to respond to emergency calls. Along with
responding to fire, vehicle and medical
emergencies, the Division also has Specialty Teams
ready to respond to incidents such as, but not
limited to: hazardous material emergencies,
helicopter rescues, high angle (cliff) rescues, water
rescues and confined space rescues.
In addition to providing emergency services,
the Suppression Division also seeks to create,
implement, and support programs that reduce
emergencies. The Division proactively assists in the
reduction of risk to persons, property, and the
environment by regularly conducting pre-fire
planning in buildings in the Region. Building floor
plans with hazard information, emergency
contacts, and hazardous material inventories, are
very helpful in reducing damage and disruption in the event of a fire. Floor plans are also readily available
for personnel when responding to fire emergencies for use in evacuations and fire attack.
Operational services are provided from 8 Fire Stations, 7 of which are staffed by paid, full-time
firefighters 24 hours per day, and 1 Fire Station (Goulds) operated by paid, full-time firefighters 8 hours
per day (Monday to Friday) and volunteers for evenings and weekends.2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 6
Fire Stations are strategically situated in the following locations:
Central Fire Station 5 Fort Townshend
Kent’s Pond Fire Station 165 Portugal Cove Road
West End Fire Station 215 Blackmarsh Road
Brookfield Fire Station 569 Topsail Road
Kenmount Fire Station 66 O’Leary Avenue
Mount Pearl Fire Station 8 Olympic Drive
Goulds Fire Station 541 Main Road, Goulds
Paradise Fire Station 1565 Topsail Road, Paradise2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 7
SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION
The Support Services Division, located at Central Fire Station, 2nd floor, is responsible for
providing general support activities to the Department and the Region’s citizens. This Division consists
of Fire Prevention, Training and 911 Communication Center/Fire Dispatch.
Personnel Position #
Deputy Chief of Support Services 1
Fire Prevention Officer 1
Fire Inspectors 3
Training Officer 1
Assistant Training Officers 2
Communication Supervisor 1
Dispatchers 8
Dispatchers (Relief) 3
TOTAL 20
FIRE PREVENTION
The Fire Prevention Division is responsible for public fire safety education, inspection duties,
code enforcement, and plans review. This Division also receives many requests each year from
citizens, industry, businesses, organizations and community groups for fire safety presentations to
provide Fire Prevention education.
Popular Fire Prevention Programs and Lectures include:
Learn Not to Burn - teaches fire safety behaviors to
elementary school children in a way they can understand &
remember.
Hazard House - the portable Hazard House creates
awareness about fire hazards to all ages.
Evacuation Planning – Educating businesses, schools and
citizens on developing an evacuation plan for their building
or home.
Sparky the Fire Dog - Helping make fire prevention fun for
kids.2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 8
TRAINING DIVISION
The Training Division is responsible for the training and career development of the SJRFD
Suppression staff. Developing long term training strategies, including theory and practical training
evolutions to educate personnel on the latest equipment and techniques, is the primary mandate of
the Division. Utilizing the training facility (Training Tower) located at Kenmount Fire Station, the
Training Officers are able to create realistic practical drills for firefighters. Theory and practical
scenarios ensures personnel are able to perform their duties with efficiency and effectiveness with
due regard for safety and compliance with established policies, procedures, standards and in
conformity with applicable law. Training subjects include, but are not limited to:
Accountability
Rapid Intervention Crew
Firefighter Survival Skills
Fire Attack and Control
SCBA and Personal Protective Equipment
Pump Operator, Aerial Operator
Hazardous Materials
Firefighter First Aid (First Aid, CPR, Defibrillation,
Oxygen Therapy)
Firefighter Electrical Safety including Power Line
Hazards
Vehicle Extrication
Special Teams Training (Helicopter, High Angle, Water
Rescue, etc)
911 COMMUNICATIONS
The 911 Communications Center is located in Central Fire Station and provides the 24-hour a
day 911 Emergency System to citizens within the Northeast Avalon Peninsula.2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 9
The 911 Communications Center answers emergency calls for the following Agencies:
Fire
Police
Ambulance (Medical)
Poison Control
Coast Guard
Crisis Center
In addition, the 911 Communications Center provides
monitoring services to:
Provincial Alarm System – the ESC 8500 is connected to numerous public
buildings, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, etc. within the SJRFD’s
jurisdiction.
TTY Hearing Impaired Telephone System – hearing impaired citizens are
able to reach 911 services through a dedicated TTY telephone system.
All Fire Department-related calls (fire and rescue) within the SJRFD
Region (and its 5 outlying jurisdictions) are handled directly by 911
Dispatchers as part of the SJRFD. All other calls (police, medical, etc)
are promptly forwarded to the appropriate agency.
The 911 Communications Center will remain fully functional in the event of a shutdown crisis in
the building or area – there is the added security back-up of 911 services through the Corner Brook
PSAP and a Redundant Fire Dispatch Center located in the Mount Pearl Fire Station, which is designed
to be operational within seconds of a critical event.
GOULDS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Fire Chief of the Goulds Volunteer Fire Department reports to the Fire Chief (Director of Regional
Fire and Emergency Services) and is responsible for the effective and efficient execution of the duties
and responsibilities of the Goulds Volunteer Fire Department. The Goulds Volunteer Fire Department is
responsible for providing a wide range of fire and emergency services to the Goulds geographical area.
Volunteer firefighters respond to incidents from 4:00pm – 8:00am Monday to Friday and during
weekends. Incidents that occur during the remaining hours in the week are responded to by full-time,
paid staff. All fire and emergency incidents are supported by full-time/paid firefighters from adjoining
SJRFD Stations.
While this Division operates with a considerable degree of independence, the operations of the
Department are integrated with the SJRFD and form an integral part of the fire and life safety service2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 10
within their geographic area of responsibility. The Goulds Volunteer Fire Department consists of 31
members.
ADMINISTRATION DIVISION
The Administration Division is led by the Manager
of Administrative Services and is responsible for
providing administrative support to the Fire Prevention,
Training, and Operations Divisions. This Division is also
the first point of contact for general public inquiries, and
ensures prompt routing of requests and correspondence
and accurate records management.
Personnel Position #
Manager of Administrative Services 1
Administration Clerk 2
Fire Equipment Procurement Technician 1
TOTAL 4
ADMINISTRATION
Administration provides clerical support to various divisions, maintains leave records, and
processes payroll and personnel transactions such as promotions and personnel transfers.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Financial Management includes budget formulation, presentation and monitoring, and
payment for goods and services received.2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 11
MECHANICAL DIVISION
The Mechanical Division is led by the Manager of Mechanical Services and is located at Kent’s
Pond Fire Station. This Division is responsible for the repair, maintenance and testing of all fire apparatus
and support equipment within the SJRFD, ensuring that equipment is ready for use at a moment’s notice.
The Division is also responsible for the procurement and disposal of all apparatus and to make sure the
equipment meets industry standards.
This is the only full time dedicated mechanical division in Newfoundland and Labrador to have
certified Master Emergency Vehicle Technicians (EVTs).
Personnel Position #
Manager of Mechanical Services 1
Fire Apparatus Technicians 2
TOTAL 32020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 12
EMERGENCY AND SAFETY SERVICES DIVISION
The Emergency and Safety Services
Division is responsible to ensure the City’s
Emergency, Continuity, and Occupational Health
and Safety programs are ready to respond in
practical and productive ways to internal and
external threats. The Program includes the
development and implementation of
preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery
initiatives for emergencies, disasters and planned
events. Through planning, training, exercising, and
coordinating with agencies across the City, we are
ready to respond during a crisis.
Key responsibilities of the program include:
Identifying major risks and critical infrastructure within the City
Developing and maintaining emergency plans and procedures including the City of St. John’s
Emergency Management Plan
Ensuring staff are ready to respond to emergencies through plan development, annual training
and emergency exercises
Maintaining and testing two emergency operations centers (EOCs) to centralize response,
communications, and coordination efforts in the event of an emergency
Develop mitigation, prevention and recovery strategies with City Departments
Promote public education and awareness
Personnel Position #
Manager of Emergency & Safety Services 1
Safety Advisors 2
Corporate Security Manager 1
TOTAL 32020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 13 Organizational Chart
2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 14
Recruitment Process
Welcome to the St. John’s Regional Fire Department (SJRFD) Firefighter’s Recruitment and
Selection Process. This handbook provides a general outline of the recruitment and selection process as
well as a list of the duties, responsibilities and challenges for the position of firefighter.
Approximately every two years, the SJRFD
conducts a recruitment process for new firefighters.
Once recruitment begins, a Job Advisory Notice will be
released to notify interested candidates of an upcoming
recruitment. This allows candidates the opportunity to
update all required certificates and/or documents. A
Notice of Employment Opportunity will then be
advertised through various outlets, including the City of
St. John’s, City of Mount Pearl and Town of Paradise
websites.
Applications will not be accepted until the Notice of Employment Opportunity has been released.
At any time and without prior notification, the Department has the right to change and/or amend
any of the Stages detailed below. Changes made to any stage will be consistent for all candidates during
each recruitment period.
Please read the following information carefully. Failure to adhere to the specified
directions and/or deadlines at any stage of the recruitment and selection process will
result in disqualification, and your application will not be considered for employment.2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 15
WHY SHOULD I BE INTERESTED IN THE ST. JOHN’S REGIONAL FIRE DEPARTMENT?
The SJRFD is a professional emergency response organization, consisting of individuals dedicated
to providing a high standard of service to the community we protect.
We are committed to:
Protecting the lives and property of the residents of the region we
serve from the ravages of fire, natural or man-made disasters,
medical emergencies, the release of dangerous chemicals and/or
other emergencies that may occur;
Developing and providing quality fire inspection, fire prevention
and training programs;
Providing efficient, effective 911 public-safety communications to
the residents of the Region and other emergency service
providers;
Working with other organizations and/or individuals to ensure
that a high standard of service is maintained within our area of
jurisdiction.
Our Vision:
To be recognized as a leader in the delivery of dynamic emergency
services and safety programs that embrace excellence and
innovation.
Our Mission:
To provide professional emergency services and safety programs to
protect life, property and environment for all citizens.
Our Goals:
Throughout our organization and in everything we do, we value:
Leadership
Teamwork
Professionalism
Trust
Respect2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 16
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A FIREFIGHTER?
The physical demands of the job are endless as is the ability to absorb years of continuous
education and training.
Being a firefighter is self-rewarding. Few professions allow you to put your safety at risk to protect
life and property. There certainly is a feeling of great satisfaction when helping others.
The purpose of this guide is to help you decide if
you have what it takes to become a firefighter. In addition
to firefighting and responding to medical emergencies,
you will also be required to become skillful in the driving
of all fire department emergency vehicles as well as the
operation and use of a wide variety of specialized
equipment used for incidents such as hazardous material
spills, confined space entry, high angle rescue, water/ice
rescues and vehicle extrication.
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO I NEED TO BECOME A FIREFIGHTER?
Interested candidates who meet the following minimum qualifications are encouraged to apply
for a position as a St. John’s Regional Firefighter when these positions are periodically advertised:
Hold Firefighter II certification from a IFSAC or ProBoard certified Fire Service Training Facility; in such cases you must
quote your IFSAC seal # or ProBoard #;
Be medically and physically fit to meet the City’s
requirements related to firefighter fitness;
Successful completion of high school or equivalent;
Valid Certificate of Conduct with vulnerable sector check
(must be issued within the last 6 months);
Class 03 Newfoundland and Labrador Driver’s License with
09 Air Brake Endorsement or, out-of-province equivalents
for non-residents;
Advanced First Aid for Firefighter’s Certificate with St. John
Ambulance, First Responder with Red Cross, or an active
Paramedic certification as recognized in Newfoundland
Labrador.2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 17
Any applicant who has completed a different First Aid course/program must obtain an equivalency letter from
either:
o St. John Ambulance, 8 Thomas Byrne Dr, St. John’s, NL or visit nl.sjatraining.ca
o Red Cross, NL, 17 Majors Path, St. John’s, NL or visit redcross.ca/in-your-community/newfoundland-and-
labrador
NOTE: Possession of the following would be considered desirable assets, but are not
required upon application:
Instructor’s Certifications;
Completion of college/university programs.
“The City of St. John’s is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to the employment of a
qualified workforce which reflects the community’s diversity”2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 18
Overview of Recruitment Process – 4 Stages
The Recruitment Process consists of 4 Stages and will be graded out of 100% with the following
percentages allocated for each task and stage:
Stage 1 Application 30%
Stage 2 Written Exam 30%
Stage 3 Interview 30%
Cognitive Ability Test 10%
Stage 4 City of St. John’s Pre-Employment Medical Fit/Non-Fit
STAGE 1 – APPLICATION PROCESS
It is important for candidates to realize that there will be many applications received during a
competition and the Committee will not have time to call candidates to confirm information, request proof
of qualifications (ie. certificates, etc), or to ask if there are qualifications missing from the application.
Candidates must be able to follow instructions clearly for each stage.
Candidates will be screened out of the competition “at Stage 1” for failure to provide either of the
following items:
Certificate of Conduct with Vulnerable Sector check from the Royal Newfoundland
Constabulary (RNC) or Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) issued within the last six
months;
Class 03 Newfoundland and Labrador Driver’s License with Class 09 air brake
endorsement or, out-of-province equivalents for non-residents; A copy of the front and
back of the license showing required endorsements must be submitted.
Copy of documentation (certificate) from an accredited fitness appraisal center stating
successful completion of a Job-Related (Physical) Test as conducted by an accredited
fitness appraisal center (testing date to be within 6 months from closing of competition).
More information provided on Page 22;
Submission of completed application form and all required documentation by the
advertised deadline (including three (3) references from previous supervisors for the
purposes of verifying their suitability to this profession).
Proof of the advertised qualifications (ie. certifications, training documentation, etc.).2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 19
To apply for this position, you must have a City of St. John’s online candidate profile. For details,
please visit http://www.stjohns.ca/city-hall/employment/how-apply
STAGE 2 – WRITTEN EXAM
The written exam is specifically designed for entry-level firefighter candidates with little or no
previous fire-related experience and will be based upon all 27 chapters in the 7th edition of the “IFSTA
Essentials of Fire Fighting.” The 1½ hour written test will consist of 100 multiple choice questions. The
Questions and Answers will be chosen based upon any/all study material (ie. textbook, study guides, etc)
provided by IFSTA. All recommended answers provided by IFSTA will be deemed as being correct;
therefore, there is no appeal process. There will be provisions made for candidates residing outside
Newfoundland and Labrador, however the exam must be written on the same day. More information
will be provided to candidates who come forward during the application stage to indicate they wish to
write the exam remotely. The number of candidates moving to Stage 3 will be announced immediately
before the exam begins, as well as the number of Temporary Firefighters who will ultimately be hired.
Once Stage 2 is completed, the SJRFD will select those candidates with the highest rating until
the required number of candidates has been achieved. The rating will be determined by criteria in the
candidate’s application (Stage 1) and the mark obtained on the written exam (Stage 2). Should there be a
tie in ratings, those tied candidates will move on to Stage 3. Candidates who do not obtain at least 75%
on the written exam will be eliminated from the competition.
STAGE 3 – INTERVIEW & COGNITIVE ABILITY TEST
A personal interview is conducted to discuss a candidate’s education, experience, and suitability
for the position.
Stage 3 consists of 2 components:
Interview
Cognitive Ability Test
The interview will consist of situational and behavioral based questions. Please note the
Cognitive Ability Test may be conducted on a separate day.
At the completion of Stage 3, the ratings from all three (3) Stages will be tallied to a value of
100%. The SJRFD will select those candidates with the highest ratings until the Department has reached
the required number of temporary firefighters and those candidates will move on to Stage 4.
STAGE 4 – CITY OF ST. JOHN’S PRE-EMPLOYMENT MEDICAL2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 20
Candidates will be required to pass the City of St. John’s Pre-Employment Medical Examination.
Candidates are reminded that Stage 4 is a Fit/Non-Fit component of the Selection Process, and
candidates who are considered non-fit in Stage 4 will be eliminated from the Selection Process.
This examination includes the following:
► PA chest X-ray ► Audiogram
► Blood work (CBC, BUN, CREAT, LFTS) ► Stress EKG (over 40 years or if significant risk
► Urinalysis factors exist)
► Pulmonary Function testing ► Visual acuity to include depth perception and
peripheral vision
The Job-Related (Physical) Testing
IMPORTANT: This test is part of the pre-qualifications criteria, and proper documentation MUST be
provided with the Application Form indicating that you have successfully passed the Job-Related
(Physical) Test, including the VO2 max testing. Acceptable Job-Related (Physical) Tests are listed below.
Please note:
The candidate must personally make the
test arrangements with an accredited
testing facility;
The documentation (certificate) provided to
the SJRFD with the application form must
have an issue date within 6 months of the
closing competition date.
All costs associated with the test are the
sole responsibility of the candidate.
The candidate is responsible to ensure that
the accredited testing facility provides
documentation stating a VO2 max test was conducted as part of the Job-Related (Physical) Test.
The minimum acceptable score on the VO2 max test for SJRFD firefighter applicants is 42.5
ml/kg/min (relative oxygen consumption) or higher. This MUST be indicated on the
documentation.2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 21
WHAT TYPE OF JOB-RELATED (PHYSICAL) TESTING DO I NEED TO COMPLETE?
The following Job-Related (Physical) Tests acceptable to the SJRFD will be:
York Test
Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)
Brock Test
Canadian Forces Fire Marshall’s Firefighter Pre-Entry Fitness Evaluation (CFFM’s FPFE)
An equivalent assessment, with the written pre-approval of the SJRFD.
Candidates are able to use any facility that is accredited with providing a formal certificate in the
Job-Related (Physical) Tests outlined above. Candidates should be cognizant of time frames, should
he/she choose to complete a Job-Related (Physical) Test not listed above as he/she will require pre-
approval by the SJRFD.
Please note: Candidates need to ensure that they conduct a VO2 max test with the Job-Related
(Physical) Testing.If the facility does not conduct VO2 max testing as part of the assessment, the
candidate is responsible to obtain the VO2 max test through another facility and provide all
proper documentation. The minimum acceptable score on the VO2 max test for SJRFD
firefighter applicants is 42.5 ml/kg/min (relative oxygen consumption) or higher. This MUST be
indicated on the documentation. Failure to provide proper documentation will result in the
candidate being screened out of the process.
WHERE DO I FIND FACILITIES THAT OFFER THOSE JOB-RELATED (PHYSICAL) TESTS AS OUTLINED
ABOVE?
To assist candidates in determining accredited facilities, the SJRFD have provided a list locations
known to offer the tests above. The list includes, but is not limited to:
Path Corporation (CFFM’s FPFE) Email: pathcorporation.nl@gmail.com
York University (York) Email: fityork@yorku.ca
University of Alberta (CFFM’s FPFE) Web: www.ualberta.ca/kinesiology-sport-recreation/index.html
University of Manitoba (CFFM’s FPFE) Web: umanitoba.ca/faculties/kinrec/bsal/programs/occupation/fire/2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 22
WILL THE JOB-RELATED (PHYSICAL) TEST AND VO2 MAX BE AT MY OWN EXPENSE?
Yes, similar to other minimum qualifications that require an expense on the part of the
candidate, all candidates will be responsible to acquire their own certification and provide it
with the application form.
WHAT DOCUMENTATION DO I PROVIDE WITH MY APPLICATION TO SJRFD?
The accredited facility should provide you with formal documentation (certificate) if you pass the
Job-Related (Physical) Test and VO2 max test. A copy of this certificate will need to accompany your
application form. If you are successful in moving to Stage 3 “Interview”, you will be required to bring
the original document with you.
The documentation (certificate) provided with your application must meet the following criteria:
Must indicate that the candidate has successfully completed the Job-Related (Physical) Testing,
including the VO2 max test (with a minimum score of 42.5 ml/kg/min (relative oxygen consumption) or higher ).
Must include the candidate’s name and date of testing;
Must be provided on letter head or an official certificate from an Accredited Fitness Appraisal Center.
Documentation that do not meet the criteria above will not be accepted and the candidate will be
screened out of the SJRFD recruitment process.
If the accredited fitness appraisal center does not indicate on their certificates that a VO 2 max test
was conducted as part of the Job-Related (Physical) Test, a letter provided on letterhead from the
accredited fitness appraisal center can accompany the certificate stating that the VO 2 max was
conducted and successfully completed. The letter must state that the test was passed based on a
minimum acceptable score of 42.5 ml/kg/min (relative oxygen consumption) or higher.
DOES MY JOB-RELATED (PHYSICAL) TEST EXPIRE?
Yes, your Job-Related (Physical) Test and VO2 max test is valid for 6 months from the date of
testing as provided on your documentation. Therefore, your test certificate cannot be expired upon the
closing date of the job competition (last day that SJRFD accepts applications).2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 23
Interview Tips
Interview Questions are mostly situational or behavioral based. For example, you may be given a
detailed scenario and asked how you would respond in that situation. You could also be asked to
reflect on your prior experience and give specific examples of how you have used certain job-related
skills to solve real-life problems in the past. It is most advantageous when you can relate skills directly
to some aspect of Firefighting. Behavioral based questions often begin with the words “Describe a
time when….”. Your success story should illustrate your strengths and show how you have used skills in
the past to overcome a problem.
There are many examples of interview questions on the Internet and there are often suggested
answers. When candidates focus on memorizing what they think is the ‘perfect’ answer, their response
appears scripted in the interview rather than a genuine and honest account of your personal
knowledge and experiences. Candidates should provide clear descriptions with sufficient detail. The
interview panel can only give credit for what is actually stated in response to a question and cannot
assume what a candidate meant to say.
The STAR interview response technique is a good method for providing a thorough answer to behavioral
interview questions. The 4 steps of the STAR technique include:
Situation
Task
Action
Result
1. Situation: Open with a brief description of the Situation and context of the story (who, what,
where, when, how).
2. Task: Explain the Task you had to complete highlighting any specific challenges or constraint
(e.g. deadlines, costs, other issues).
3. Action: Describe the specific Actions that you took to complete the task. These should highlight
desirable traits without needing to state them (initiative, intelligence, dedication, leadership,
understanding, etc.)
4. Result: Close with the result of your efforts. Include figures to quantify the result if possible.2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 24
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: If I am unsuccessful this time, can I be placed on a waiting list for the next competition?
A: No, future vacancies with the SJRFD will be re-posted and applications will be re-invited.
Although you may have qualified for one particular competition, it does not necessarily mean
that the same result will occur the next time.
Q: If I am successful in being hired, when can I expect full-time employment?
A: As this competition is for Temporary Firefighters, it is difficult to predict when full-time
employment may be available - it is likely to occur as regular full-time firefighters retire. Until
that time, Temporary Firefighters will normally be hired /recalled on an as-needed basis,
primarily to replace full-time firefighters during the summer and Christmas Holiday periods.
During these periods, shifts will be 24 hours on shift – 72 hours off shift. Temporary firefighters
will be placed on a schedule.
Q: Is there a probationary period?
A: Yes, all candidates hired must successfully complete a twelve-month probationary period to
continue employment with the St. John’s Regional Fire Department. Since you are a Temporary
Firefighter, this probationary period is based on 2184 hours worked, rather than calendar date.
Q: What will my pay scale be once I am hired?
A: A firefighter’s salary starts at $55,316.74 (55% of firefighter) with increases over time. The salary
after 36 months of service for a firefighter is currently $100,575.58 (100% of firefighter).
Q: Will the SJRFD pay my gym membership fee upon initial hire?
A: Yes. The SJRFD is committed to promoting physical fitness and wellness of firefighters that will
positively influence job performance and personal health, therefore the SJRFD currently pays
gym memberships even while on lay-off status.2020/2021 SJRFD Firefighter Recruitment Guide | 25
Prior to your application submission, it is strongly encouraged that if you have any questions
regarding the recruitment process or the minimum qualifications, contact a representative at the
City of St. John’s Human Resources Division
(709) 576-6153
hrsc@stjohns.ca
We would be happy to assist you in any way we can.
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